Full Breakdown
Arizona State’s 55-19 Home Loss to Baylor Sparks Coach Dillingham’s Self-Assessment
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Baylor Dominates in Tempe
Baylor (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) routed Arizona State (2-2, 1-1) 55-19 in the Sun Devils’ home opener. The Bears amassed 564 total yards (306 passing, 244 rushing) while the Devils managed 409 yards (193 passing, 216 rushing). Baylor forced three turnovers and recorded six tackles for loss; Arizona State recorded two sacks and five quarterback hurries. The margin of defeat is the largest the program has suffered since joining the Big 12 in 2024.
Background & Context
Kenny Dillingham took over the Arizona State program in late 2022 after back-to-back 3-9 seasons. He guided the Sun Devils to an 11-3 season in 2024, winning the conference title and reaching the College Football Playoff. This year the team entered the season 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play, with a 22nd-ranked transfer class that included wide receivers Reed Harris and Omarion Miller and quarterback Cutter Boley. Injuries and a demanding schedule have contributed to a rocky start.
Data & Statistics
- Total yards: Baylor 564 vs. Arizona State 409 (official game statistics).
- Turnovers: Baylor 3, Arizona State 1 (official game statistics).
- Sacks: Arizona State 2; Baylor 3 (official game statistics).
- Third-down conversions: Baylor 9-15; Arizona State 2-17 (official game statistics).
- Individual performances: Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway 25-40, 306 yards, 4 TDs, 1 rushing TD; Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley 25-43, 304 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Official Statements & Responses
Dillingham also highlighted the importance of fundamentals, saying the solution is “nothing drastic” but better execution of basics.
Verbatim Quotes
- “No, no, we're not hitting a standard that I want, because we're not playing as good as we can play, and the standard is playing to the maximum ability that the football team that you have can play, and to play above that. Pull out more than the team has, and I am not pulling out more than this team has,” — Kenny Dillingham, head football coach
- “I’m just as mad as you are,” — Kenny Dillingham, head football coach
- “I think what helps kind of bring this out is to go into enemy territory where they're all against you all the way,” — Dave Aranda, head coach
- “This was a game where they just whooped our butt across the board,” — Dillingham. The, coach
- “You have to just say, ‘Let’s go get better,’ and ignore it, and let’s rock and roll,” — Kenny Dillingham, head football coach
On-the-Ground Reports
Fans began exiting the stadium during the third quarter, underscoring the disappointment in the home crowd.
What’s Next
Arizona State’s next contest is a non-conference home game against Hawaii, offering the Sun Devils a chance to reset before resuming Big 12 play with road games at Texas Tech, BYU and Oklahoma State. Coach Dillingham indicated that the team will focus on “the basics” and “getting back to work” in the week leading up to that matchup.